Police say Dover man was attacked for spilling drink at dance club

PORTSMOUTH — Police say a spilled drink on the dance floor was the motive behind an attack at a Portsmouth bar over the weekend that potentially lead to the victim's death.

By JIM HADDADINjhaddadin@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — Police say a spilled drink on the dance floor was the motive behind an attack at a Portsmouth bar over the weekend that potentially lead to the victim's death.

According to court documents, 24-year-old Zachary O'Neill, of Dover, allegedly told police he assaulted another bar patron early Saturday morning because the man spilled a drink on him earlier in the evening. O'Neill, of 12 New York St., was arraigned Wednesday morning on a first-degree assault charge. He entered no plea while appearing in Portsmouth Circuit Court at about 9 a.m. He was ordered held on $250,000 cash only bail.

The victim, Joshua Krantz, suffered a skull fracture to the left side of his head in the assault and later died.

"I don't see what the big deal is," O'Neill allegedly said to police. "It was just a bar fight."

An acquaintance of O'Neill told police he bragged about punching Krantz later in the night and demonstrated the assault.

Police say O'Neill told them he waited until bar closing to hit Krantz because he "didn't want to ruin his night."

On the night of the attack, back home in Dover, Krantz continued to complain of nausea and a severe headache and covered his face and head with a jacket. He said he was OK and went to sleep.

Krantz's roommate heard him snoring louder than usual around 3 a.m. and shook him. His roommates found Krantz dead in the morning, covered in "vomitous material."

According to court documents, Krantz, suffered a skull fracture to the left side of his head in the assault.

O'Neill is also charged with violating the conditions of a Feb. 4 bail order.

O'Neill allegedly struck Krantz in the head repeatedly with his fists while the two were at The Page, a bar and restaurant in Portsmouth. Police say the attack was unprovoked, and Krantz was hit from behind while he was on the dance floor on the lower level of the business.

Police said Krantz, a 2006 Epping High School graduate, was visiting the bar with friends on Friday night. The bar did not report the incident to police, and Krantz left without seeking medical treatment.

Dover police were called to his apartment to investigate the unattended death at about 11:30 a.m. A preliminary investigation revealed Krantz died of a fractured skull, leading to an epidural hematoma.

The state medical examiner's office has yet to issue a ruling regarding the manner of Krantz's death. Police say the charge against O'Neill could be upgraded if the death is ruled a homicide.

O'Neill is about 6 feet tall, and weighs about 200 pounds, according to information provided by Portsmouth police. He was asked to leave The Page by staff after Saturday morning's incident, police said.

Police issued an arrest warrant for O'Neill on Tuesday afternoon. He was arrested in Rochester by New Hampshire State Police later in the evening. O'Neill was located at a family member's home on Main Street.